Golf ball retriever



. w. E. SUMNER 2,792,955

May 21, 1957 GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed March 4, 1955 2 Sheets-$het 1 34e/ b I] INVENTOR F1615 m- WILL/A E. SUMNER ATTORNEY May 21, 1957 w. E.SUMNER GOLF BALL RETRIEVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1955 ATTORNEYGOLF BALL RETRIEVER William E. Sumner, Winston-Salem, N. C.

Application March 4, 1955, Serial No. 492,079

9 Claims. (Cl. 214--356) This invention relates to a golf ballretrieving device, and particularly relates to a device of this typewhich is movable along the ground and acts to pick up golf ballsautomatically and conveys them to a receptacle.

The type of golf ball retriever with which this invention is concernedis particularly adapted for use on a golf driving range Where hundredsand perhaps thousands of balls are driven to all parts of a large tractof grassy ground covering many acres. It would be a herculean task foreven a large group of persons to attempt to cover this whole tract ofland and retrieve substantially all the balls lying thereon.Furthermore, since the balls are so small and the grass sometimes standsquite high, a person looking for the balls would inevitably miss a greatmany which are hidden from view. As a result, it has become necessary todevelop machines which can cover the entire tract of land in relativelyshort time and which can automatically pick up and store a ball wheneverit passes over one.

Many of these previous types of machines, however, were so constructedthat often their full weight would descend on a ball, either crushing itor seriously damaging it. Other devices were so rigidly connected thatwhen a rock or boulder was contacted, there was no give to the machineand it would, therefore, often be broken or otherwise damaged. Stillother such machines tended to become clogged with the balls and requiredconstant cleaning during use. Others could not follow the contour of theground so that many balls hidden in ditches and crevices were passedover.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a golfball retriever which is capable of efficiently clearing the ground ofgolf balls or the like without becoming clogged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ballretriever which will not damage the golf balls being picked up.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ballretriever which can follow the contour of the ground andpick up anyhidden balls, and which is also capable of passing over rocks, boundersor other obstructions without being damaged thereby.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved golfball retriever, of the character described, that is easily andeconomically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which ishighly efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts,as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a retriever embodying the presentinvention, wherein the device consists of a plurality of individualwheels, each associated with a separate disc, the device being shown inthe act of picking up golf balls from the ground.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1, taken on line 2-2 of Fig.1.

2,792,955 Patented May 21, 1957 ice.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a device similar to Fig.1 but which consists of a double-sided wheel assembly.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the ball guide scoop used inthe devices of Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a third embodiment ofthe present invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the de vice of Fig. 6,taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

I Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device shown in Figs. 6and 7.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the ball guide and disc of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, theparts being shown in corresponding positions relative to each other butin disassembled condition.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar referencecharacters refer tosimilar parts, there is shown in Fig. l a rectangularreceptacle ltl having an open top and supported at either end by a wheel12. These wheels 12, only one of which is shown, support the receptaclefor movement along the ground. At the rear of the receptacle is a shaft14 mounted between a pair of hearings on the receptacle, one of thesebearings being indicated at 16. Extending rearwardly from the shaft 14are a plurality of laterally spaced rods 18, each of these rods beingconnected to a sleeve 19 rotatably mounted on the shaft 14. The rods 18are provided in laterally spaced pairs with each pair supporting an axle20. R0- tatably mounted on a hub 21 on each axle is a wheel 22 having arim 24 and rubber tires 26. The tires 26 are provided with threads,corrugations or the like, as indicated at 28, for added traction andfrictional contact with an object.

A ball guide 39 which has an inverted V-shaped, when viewed from therear as in Fig. l, and which is substantially semi-circular when viewedfrom the side, as in Fig. 2, extends somewhat more than halfway aroundthe wheel, leaving the front edge of the wheel uncovered, as seen inFig. 2. The top portion of the guide has a curved bridge section 32overlying the wheel, the curvature of this bridge section being of ashape and size to slidably receive a golf ball or otl er similar articlebeing retrieved. At the bottom portion of the guide 30 is provided aguide mouth 34. This guide mouth extends horizontally and at the rearthereof, the guide is pro vided with a longitudinal slot 36 defining apair of walls which are provided with inwardly extending flange portions35. These flange portions 38 form a guide channel at either side of thelongitudinal siot, as best shown in Fig. 5.

Extending upwardly from the guide mouth 34, on either side of thevertical plane of the wheel, are brackets it bolted as at 42, orotherwise secured to the guide mouth. The bolts extend through holes 44in the guide mouth. Supported by brackets 46, well as by brackets 46extending upwardly from the front portions of the rods 18, are chutes48, one such chute inclining downwardly toward the open top of thereceptacle from a position adjacent the upper periphery of. each wheel.l lounted adjacent each wheel, on the corresponding axle, is a disc 59which may be treaded or serrated as at St. A spacer 52 is fixed betweeneach wheel hub and its corresponding disc to maintain the lateralspacing thereof. The discs and their corresponding Wheels are connectedto each other by as it moves over the ground, any golf ball comingwithin the confines of the guide structure, is frictionally engaged bythe Wheel, which is spaced from the ground just the height of the golfball, and thrown upward-1y between the guide-flanges until it is thrownover the top of the wheel onto the chute. It then rolls down the chuteinto the receptacle. Since each wheel, guide and disc assembly ismounted for separate pivotal movement, the weight on each golf ball isonly the weight of the one assembly rather than the whole device.Furthermore, if a rock or other obstruction is encountered, theindividual assembly can easily pivot up and over the obstruction andthen fall down into position upon the ground by the force of gravity.This separate pivotal construction also permits the individualassemblies to enter into any ditch or other cavity encountered andfollow the contour of such cavity under the force of gravity. Inaddition, the guide structure corresponding to each individual wheel,permits only those golf balls which are centered therebetween to begathered up. This prevents any undesirable clogging of the balls withinthe guideways.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is shown a second modification wherein the wheeland guide assembly is similar to that of the device described aboveexcept that there are two wheels and associated structure connected toone disc, one wheel and its guide structure being connected to eachsurface of the disc. This is illustrated by wheels 100 and 102 providedwith rubber times 104- and 106 similar to tires 26. The rims 10S and 110of the wheels 100 and 102 are mounted on hubs 112 and 114 on an axle116. A disc 118 serrated or treaded at 119, spaced from the wheels by apair of spacers 120 and 122, is mounted on the axle. The rims 108 and110 are connected to the disc by struts 124 and 126. A guide structure,generally indicated at 128 and 130, sirnilar to that shown at 30, isalso provided. These double wheel assemblies are connected to thereceptacle by rods 132 extending from the outer hub portion of eachWheel. A chute 134 leads down toward the reoeptacle from each wheel.This double wheel construction, by using only half as many discs as thefirst described form of the invention, permits a greater area to beoccupied by the wheels and their guides and, therefore provides agreater pick up area. This type is, therefore, somewhat more eflicientthan the first described type, although not quite as sturdy.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 there is shown a third modification of the inventionwhich may be similar to either the first or second form described abovebut which is illustrated as similar to the second type using the doublewheel construction. This form of the invention is shown as comprising adisc 200 serrated or treaded at 201, mounted on an axle 202 between apair of spacers 204. The spacers 204 are provided between a pair of hubs206 mounted on the common axle. A pair of rims 203, one on each side ofthe disc, are mounted on the hubs and are provided with rubber tires 210having treads or the like thereon. The rims 203 are connected to thedisc by struts 212. A semi-circular ball guide 214 partially encircleseach wheel, these guides being generally similar to those shown in Figs.3, 4 and except that, instead of being formed from a longitudinallyslotted bar having laterally bent over flanges, the guides 214 eachcomprise a plate 216 forming a scoop portion similar to scoop 34. Thisplate has holes 218 to receive bolts or the like, as at 220, forconnecting the brackets 222 to the guide. A chute 224 is supported oneach bracket. A twisted arm 226 integrally connects the plate 216 to achannel-shaped circular guide portion 228. The balls, as they are pickedup, are guided around the wheel between the portion 228 and the disc200, as best seen in Figs. 7 and 8. A supporting rod 230 extends to apivoted sleeve on the receptacle, not shown.

This guide structure is somewhat lighter and cheaper to construct thanthat previously described above, although it is not quite as sturdy.

It is apparent from the description above that all forms of theinvention have the common attribute of individual wheel support whereinthe individual wheel assemblies are automatically and individuallyadjustable to follow the contours of the ground and wherein the weightof only one such wheel assembly bears on a ball at any one time. It isfurthermore, apparent that the device may be used to retrieve any othersimilar object in addition to golf balls.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

l. A golf ball retrieving device comprising a movable frame, areceptacle on said frame, and at least one ball retrieving assemblypivotally mounted on said frame, said retrieving assembly comprising arotatable disc, at least one wheel connected to said disc in laterallyspaced relationship, said Wheel being of a smaller diameter than saiddisc and being spaced from said disc, a peripheral guide structurespaced radially and laterally from each wheel, and a conveyor associatedwith each wheel and adapted to convey articles from the periphery ofsaid wheel to said receptacle.

2; The device of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of ballretrieving assemblies spaced laterally of each other and each beingmounted independently of the others.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said guide structure comprises asubstantially semi-circular bar having inwardly turned flanges extendinginwardly from opposite sides thereof to define a guide channel.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said guide structure comprises asubstantially semi-circular bar which has a laterally off-set channelportion so constructed and arranged as to slidably embrace a ballbetween said channel portion and said disc.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a wheel and guide structure areprovided adjacent one surface of said disc.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein a wheel and guide structure areprovided adjacent each of the two opposite surfaces of said disc.

7. A golf ball retrieving device comprising an elongated, open-toppedreceptacle, a wheel on each of the two opposite ends of said receptacle,a shaft connected to one wall of said receptacle between said wheels, aplurality of rods pivotally connected to said shaft in laterally spacedrelationship to each other, individual axles connected to said rods, awheel having a peripheral guide track connected thereto, mounted on eachof said axles, and a disc connected laterally to each wheel andextending radially beyond the periphery of its corresponding wheel.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein each rod is connected to said shaft bymeans of a sleeve rotatable on said shaft.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein a chute extends from the periphery ofeach wheel toward the open top of said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,413,679 Binder. Jan. 7, 1947 2,484,437 Wells Oct. 11, 1949 2,605,005Wenzel et a1 July 29, 1952 2,651,902 Curry Sept. 15, 1953 2,656,061Lockie Oct. 20, 1953 2,658,637 Bailey Nov. 10, 1953

